What do you believe is a proper baptism?

Question

Sprinkling, dunking, baptismal tub or flowing water?
Why?

Answer 1

i believe in dunking in water because that is the example given in the Bible. flowing water may not always be available so a baptismal tub would be okay
but before you get baptized, ask your pastor or whoever leads your church about the true reason for baptism and make sure you understand it before you get baptized

Answer 2

A proper baptism takes placed with one is submerged in that they are being baptized in. In the 3rd Chapter of Matt we find Jon the Baptist preaching/teaching concerning three different baptisms, each bringing about a different conclusion. John stated "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." At this same Christ submitted to the being baptized by John as an example of that water baptism takes place when one is dunked or submerged in water. Now, it does matter if it is a river, a baptismal pool or tub, for it is not the water that makes it holy, but the sacrament. Still, when one is baptized it is an outward show of an inward change.

Answer 3

I would say dunking because that is how Jesus was baptized. However I don't think its the way of baptism, but the reason behind it that is the problem. People should get bapized AFTER they have chosen to become a Christian and this is a way for them to publically announce that they will follow Jesus. Getting baptized as a baby doesn't make much sense since it's their parent's choice for them, not theirs.

Answer 4

Dunking when possible, sprinkling when the person is ill, baptismal tub on a freezing day, and a creek whenever possible.

Answer 5

I second Private P and his reply. Baptism by the Holy Spirit is part of salvation. Water baptism is symbolic only, it can't save. Think about it, water washing away sin??? really??? The bible says nothing of this.

Answer 6

John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."

Only immersion ("dunking" as you have called it) requires "much water".


Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..."

Acts 8:38-39 "...they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water..."

Only immersion requires going into and coming out of the water.


Col. 2:12 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

Romans 6:3-4 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Only immersion is a burial and a rising, depicting how Christ was buried in the tomb and rose up out of the grave to walk a new life.

The Greek word we get "baptism" from means to immerse, or to dip, therefore, according to the Bible, baptism is immersion. Sprinkling and pouring are not what is taught as a method of baptism in the Bible. Baptism is a complete overwhelming (burial) in water.

Answer 7

The pre-dominate language during the times of Jesus, was Greek. In Greek, the word Baptismo means " under water ". SO, putting water, or sprinkling is not by scripture, only personal belief. God Bless......

Answer 8

the same way Christ was baptized, the body be submerged in the water, dunking in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost

Answer 9

The ancient rubrics of the early Church were debated and debated - "how much is enough to make the Sacrament valid??"

The formula they came up with is:

"Enough water so that it naturally "runs' or "pours"

This is so Baptism can be dome "in extremis" (when there is immediate danger of someone dying.)

There can be no doubt that early Baptisms were done by immersion....but - to be a "proper" Baptism (good sacramental term there, Mav!) - only enough to pour is necessary.

Sprinkling is never enough and invalid, according to the ancient rubrics (rules)

Answer 10

Total immersion... and preferably in fresh, flowing water --as in a river.

Water is the Giver of Life and serves to cleanse and purify a believer from Death and from one's past life --total immersion represents burial of the past-- and to emerge from it as a symbolic process of a Rebirth or Resurrection into a New/Renewed Life, and this time as a true follower of The Law...

Peace be with you.